Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices ... (ISBN 0415239036)

Zoroastrianism, the relegion of great Persian Empires:
This book is a detailed history of Zoroastrianism from its begining 3700 hundred years ago to 1970s. I found the narrative interesting and informative and Ms. Boyce's treatment of this great relegion objective and unprejudiced. She informs on the strength and weakneses of the theology and the practitioners of the relegion. I highly recommend the book for learning about Zoroasterianism.

A little classic:
Boyce's book is a classic study in comparative religion. It is full of insights into the origins of Zoroastrianism, and how it strongly shaped all later religious traditions of the Western world. She shows how much of what Jews, Christians and Muslims commonly consider "fundamental" to their faith is borrowed from the Zoroastrians. --author of "Different Visions of Love"

Thank you to Mary Boyce !:
As a passionate amateur of the Shahnameh which led me to the history of ancient Persia, to the Avesta and to the zoroastrianism, I am so glad I found many answers in Mary Boyce book. I choosed this one because she is a reknowned scholar on the subject and I am looking for objectivity. I wish other scholars had done this attempt to address to amateur by writing so serious a book.

alternate title: Zoroastrians - history of religious beliefs and practices:
The books focuses a lot on the history of Zoroastrian beliefs and practices. It's not so much a thorough dissertation of Zoroaster's original teachings. This isn't a book if you're interested in something that focuses on the life and teachings of Zoroaster (a.k.a. Zarathustra), himself.

Solid Historical Overview:
Mary Boyce's Zoroastrians is an historical overview of the birth, development, and ultimate withering away of this ancient religious community. Laying the foundation of the religious culture of ancient Indo-Iranians out of which Zoroastrianism grew, she gives some basic but comprehensive details as to the Zoroastrian's religious beliefs (and some few facts about Zoroaster himself). A Monotheistic culture, with an angelic pantheon that in some respects seems polytheistic, Zoroastrians fight to maintain their belief in Ahura Mazda and the forces of good, which they believe is humankind's chief ally against the forces of evil, the Angra Mainyu. Although this book may be a bit in depth for introductory readers, to get beyond the basic facts of most world religion books, Boyce's book is a recommended read. Rich in historical detail, sometimes a bit thick and heavy, Boyce packs a lot into 230 pages.